Ushering in multiplex era in Rajamahendravaram

As many as three multiplex cinema complexes with 15 screens are coming up in the ancient city, Rajamahendravaram shortly and the works were under progress.

Prasad Aditya, AP Tourism-Manjeera and Satyam Cinemas are constructing the multi complexes in the city.

Speaking to The Hans India, Cinema Exhibitors Association city president PL Swamy (Babu) said that Rs 200 crore worth of multiplexes are coming up near Govinda Kshetram at Lalachervu, opposite to GAIL office at Anala Venkata Appa Rao Road and another one opposite to central prison.

The government has accorded permission to multiplexes for five shows per day between 8am to 1.30am. There is no scope of new single screen theatres in near future because of many reasons,” said Swamy.

“Cinema theatre maintenance is now costlier and it is inevitable to enhance the ticket rates,” he said and underlined the need to reduce 28 per cent of GST on cinema theatres.

He further demanded the government to bring cinema industry under 'small scale industries' category for its survival. “It became inevitable to the produces to invest at least 60 percent on casting and the remaining on production,” he said.

At present, there are 14 single screens, as against of 23 theatres in the city. Meanwhile, the number of theatres reduced to 102 by the 2014, as against of 195 theatres in 2007. But, in the two years 20 new theatres came up in B category centres.

“Earlier, the people used to come to cinema theatres for spending time but, now they are coming to theatres if it is good,” he added.